Timing is everything

We had church Sunday, and I am so eternally grateful that Will decided to fill in for me in the nursery.  Otherwise I would have missed THE BEST service I have ever been to.  I need to start carrying a box of kleenex to CBC with me.  I was sobbing tears of joy listening 9 people give their lives to Jesus, they ranged from 6 years old to 49 years young.  It was amazing to hear all their trials and how God brought them through.  I don't think there were many dry eyes in the house Sunday.  It was an exhilarating service.  Our Church is also going to be providing the music on August 2 at the Knox County Fair, there was the Sidewalk Vacation Bible school last week, VBS this week, the church picnic at our farm this Sunday.  There are so many exciting things going on at church!!

As for that whole, Timing is everything...  Apparently, I don't have the best...  Dr. Keller came out to ultrasound Bella to see if she was in season.  Tristan was helping me with Bella.  He was very interested in what Dr. Keller was going to be doing, but I figured it would be better for him to "help" keep Bella still at her other end that be right in middle of it all at other end.  He still decided that being a vet is NOT what he wants to do when he grows up.  Darn it!!  How handy would that be?!  But, he did really well, was quiet (amazing feat for Tristan), did what I asked, and didn't whine.  I was proud of him.  Sadly, Dr. Keller told me that Bella had just been in less that 48 hours ago.  Not the best of news.  We were hoping to take her to Horsemeister tonight to have her first "date" with Evan.  Now we will have to give Bella a shot on Monday to bring her back into season then a week from this Thursday she will go to Horsemeister.  

Horsemeister has three phenomenal stallions.  We couldn't use Valiant on Bella as they are 1/2 brother and sister.  Killian is so handsome.  We went with Evan.  I have seen him several times, but I am so ready to see him up close.  He is so impressive and hairy.  Which is good with Friesians.  ;)

Our friend/webmaster is working on a total overhaul on our website.  I am very anxious to see the outcome.  I really like our website now, but I think this is really going to be much easier to navigate.

If you haven't heard, I finally got our facebook page for the farm set up.  Send Hardenberg Friesians a facebook friend request!!!  I am going  to try to be better about posting on there.  Wish me luck!!

Grief, rejoicing and LOTS of manual labor

Last week, we decided there was no choice but to put poor Cutter down.  He was our 28 year old gelding that we took in this March.  I literally could climb on him with a halter and lead rope and ride wherever.  He was a gentleman, and easy to work with.  He was suppose to be for our niece Taylor and Tristan to ride and anyone else who came over to ride.  When I brought Cutter home, we kept him in a stall with his own paddock to let him adjust to his new surroundings.  He paced and paced, only time he stopped was when he was eating.  So, we put him out with the mares.  He did ok, but still the pacing.  Moved him in with Palmer and Bella.  That arrangement didn't work.  So, back to the mares he went.  The pacing continued and his weight dropped drastically.  We adjusted his grain ration and added a weight builder supplement, 6 flakes of hay PLUS all the grass he could eat.  Still his weight dropped and still the pacing.  Our vet prescribed a relaxer to stop the pacing hoping that would help him gain the weight back.   Seemed to help at first, but the side effects made him loose even more weight.  So, we stopped that..  He never went back to pacing, but he became so skinny we called Dr. Keller’s office again.  There just wasn’t any more to be done for him.  So, sadly we had to put Cutter down on Thursday.  This is the third horse that I have had to put down and it just does NOT get any easier.  But I am praying his spirit is in heaven and someone is loving on him and riding him and he is happy again. 

Thankfully, Thursday also brought some good news.  Lemon Drop had an ultrasound and was confirmed pregnant!  This was my first ultrasound on a horse.  Interesting experience to say the least…  I put her in a stall,  our vet sedated her, put a hay bale behind her back legs (JUST in case she decided to kick…) and waited for the meds to kick in…  Didn’t take long.  I was thrilled cause they did a screen freeze and I got to see the 20 day along embryo.  That was soooo cool!  Lemon Drop was calm, cool and the best little lady.  She is so much fun to work with!   Thus the rejoicing!  She, Airiah, Nevar and Shadow are all in the big section of the pasture now.  Airiah has always been the “Queen Bee” of Hardenberg.  She set Palmer and Bella straight as soon as she arrived and has never relinquished her position.  To say she isn't one for sharing her grain is putting it nicely.  So, I didn't really think it would be a problem to leave her in with Lemon Drop (LD doesn't get grain) when I gave Airiah her grain this morning.  You could have knocked me over with a feather when I came around the side of the garden shed and saw Airiah allowing Lemon Drop to eat the grain Airiah had spilled out of her bin.  So, I guess my pretty ladies are now best friends!  YEAH!!!  But sadly, that is just one more step now in the morning chores.

So, on to the lots of manual labor...  As you probably know, we (mostly Will that is...) have been repurposing our old dairy barn into a horse barn.  It has NOT been the easiest feat to accomplish.  When we moved here 2.5 years ago, the barn was about 2-3' deep of "stuff" covering the floor.  Will managed to get most of that cleaned up the first 6 months we were here.  I was pregnant and then caring for a newborn at the time, so I wasn't much help.  We went from 2 makeshift "stalls" to now having four really nice stalls!!  Three have lime flooring with rubber mats on top.  Still have some finishing work to do, but they are usable!  The fourth one has an attached paddock that we need to break up the concrete floor and put lime in.  This one is our "maternity stall".  It has really been a process.  I am pretty thrilled that we (again... Will really) have gotten as much done as we have with both of us working full time, 2 small kids, etc, etc.   So, that is one of the reasons you haven't heard from me much lately.  Plus, we have been outside every night until 9pm, soaking up as much summer as we can.

Will and I decided that we are going to bred Isabella's Song (a.k.a. Bella) to Evan (from Horsemeister.com).  Really can't wait to see what this amazing foal is going to look like.  So, YEAH another beautiful baby to look forward to.  

Keep your eyes on the website.  Some changes should be coming soon.  Should be exciting!!  

CBC Trek

Sunday was a whirlwind.  We made it to church, raced home, ate a quick lunch and outside we went. Our awesome AWANA Jr. high group and the Sr. high group were coming for a bonfire and s'mores fest at Hardenbergfriesians Farm.  It was pretty exciting for us.  We raced around finishing up a few small chores.  I made several attempts to get Jayden down for a nap, but she pulled out all her tricks on me.  Tristan of course was not a problem.  He doesn't want a nap, but he is out about as soon as his head hits the pillow.  Will finally got Jayden to lay down in our bed with Cinderella on.  Five minutes later, she was out.
Once the group was there with our friends (and youth group leaders) Katy and Alex, we got to cooking the hot dogs over the fire.  S'mores were made... And then the rain came down on us.  It was pretty funny watching the kids run here and there for cover.  The rain let up and we pulled Palmer and Bella out for a Friesian parade.  They were led all over the place, down the road, etc.  They behaved very well.  Such good babies.  I am pretty upset with myself...  I need to somehow attach my camera to my head so I don't miss another photo op.  what is wrong with me?!
Mom and I went to Jo-Ann's Fabric in Galesburg Monday night.  We bought some material to make costumes for the costume class at the Galesburg shows.  I can't wait.  Guess I am still a little girl at heart.  I LOVE to get dressed up.  My Mom is the greatest!!  I know she isn't really crazy about sewing, but I almost think she is as excited as I am.  Haha!!
We found a couple bales of grass hay, but we are still looking for more.  Ms. LemonDrop can't have the alfalfa rich hay that we use for the Friesians.  If you are local and know anyone with good quality grass hay, please let me know.
Sadly, it is time to get to bed.  Chores are taking 1/2 an hour even with Will and I working together.  Maybe cause I spend to much time loving on them?  But how can I not??